Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Kids enjoy the snow day to use the large hill at Henry Park in Rockville on Monday, January 26, 2026, in Vernon. (Jim ...
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Exploding trees? A closer look at frost cracking

Frost cracks appear as vertical splits in the trunk of a tree and are the result of plant tissue expansion and contraction.
Every time arctic air drops south, and temperatures plummet well below zero, social media lights up with a scary (and slightly cinematic) rumor called "exploding trees." Videos circulate of loud, ...
Experts say trees do not explode but can crack loudly due to rapid temperature changes. This phenomenon, known as "frost cracking," occurs when tree sap freezes and expands. Young trees, thin-barked ...
WEST DES MOINES PARKS AND RECREATION FACEBOOK PAGE. RIGHT NOW. STORIES OF TREES EXPLODING IN THE COLD ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION ONLINE. YOU SHOULD KNOW OFFICIALS ARE DEBUNKING THOSE CLAIMS. IT’S ...
Chip Murrow had never heard the term "exploding trees" in his 30 years as a forester for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Is there a danger of exploding trees in Iowa? And how does it happen?
As we head into the weekend, a major winter storm system is going to slide some of the coldest air we’ve felt in years right over Michigan - and we’re going to be in a deep freeze for a few days. How ...
Should you add exploding trees to the many unpleasant surprises that come with extreme cold or is it just another myth? Here's what we know.